The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has been developing a rapid evaluation tool to assess the quality of care in response to sexual violence. This tool has the potential to be used and adapted by Ministries of Health throughout the Region in order to improve care for survivors of sexual violence in accordance with regional standards and national protocols.
As part of the process, on October 3rd, PAHO held a virtual expert meeting in which this new rapid evaluation tool was presented and workshopped. Significant progress was made to validate this tool and to identify ways to improve its implementation.
This event brought together specialists from the Region and from Member States: predominantly from Argentina, Colombia, Honduras, and Peru’s Ministries of Health, who are working to pilot test this tool. In addition, numerous global and regional experts also participated.
This project has been supported by Canada and is closely aligned with the Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against Women.
Sexual violence can be prevented; and this collaboration between PAHO and the Ministries of Health in the Region was an important step forward towards achieving this goal. The evaluation and subsequent improvement of health care services in response to sexual violence is critical for providing appropriate support to survivors of violence in all their diversity.
This virtual meeting demonstrated the commitment of PAHO and the Region's experts to collectively work towards ensuring that survivors of sexual violence receive the care and support they deserve; thus, preventing future violence.
